Chapter 1- "Why…?"
A/N: Hello, and welcome to the beginning of a new story! This is just a starter chapter, so please in the reviews tell me if you want me to continue it or not. I wasn't to sure on it, so I just wrote it anyway.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran Highschool Host Club.
It was a wet and windy Monday night. Dark too, as it was the middle of November. Haruhi sat safely tucked away behind her desk, sorting through a few file cases. Tree branches tapped against the window, creating an even spookier feeling. You see, Haruhi was the only one there. Well, there was the Janitor but the elderly man was eating his cucumber sandwiches at the other desk near Haruhi.
"You almost done, Fujioka-san?" The janitor's raspy voice echoed across the room. Haruhi swiped her hand, signalling that she was almost done.
The old man harrumphed, clenching his fist and shaking it slightly. "Why I outta talk to your boss." He paused before harrumphing again, "You're staying far too late for a new-comer."
Haruhi raised her head and smiled at the man, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for worrying about me, Nakamura-san. But it's alright. When I applied here and got the job, Miyamoto-sama said that he would work me hard. He does that to every newbie." Haruhi reached behind her head and tried to fix her high bun but when that didn't work, she unclipped the pin and let her hair tumble down where it stopped at the small of her back.
"I know that, but…" his grumbling voice trailed off. Haruhi sighed and stood up, the chair scraping across the bare floorboards. She started packing the files into her shoulder bag.
"There's no need to worry, Nakamura-san. I've finished now, so I'm leaving." Haruhi put on her coat, which was previously slung over the back of her chair. She threw her bag over her shoulder and took a few steps forward until she was stopped by the hand that was placed on her shoulder.
"You be careful out there, you hear? It's awful weather, and I don't want you to be getting a cold." The elderly man's gray bushy eyebrows knitted together.
Haruhi offered a small smile, and the Janitor removed his hand. Bidding her friend a good night, Haruhi turned her head and with a flick of her small wrist, she left for the doors to the floor below.
She arrived at the entrance, the wind rattling the door violently and rain viciously attacking it. Haruhi grumbled as she pulled her coat over her head, inwardly groaning as she forgot to bring an umbrella with her today. Oh well, there was always next time.
She stepped out and almost immediately came back in as the wind knocked her backwards slightly. She didn't realise it was like a gale outside. She pulled her coat over her head a bit more and snuggled down, bracing the storm that was currently going on.
Haruhi had only taken a few steps and already she was soaked. The wind nipped her face and hands, also causing her skirt and coat to flutter around furiously in the air. But she braced it and kept going. Her home was around 20 minutes away, so she could do it.
It was around ten minutes into the walk. Haruhi had her eyes glued to the ground, watching her every step. It was dark, and the dull light from the street lamps didn't help much. Her hair kept fluttering, sometimes obscuring her vision and even getting into her mouth. She spat it out, and continued going.
Her eyes were fixated on the ground; she didn't notice the stranger coming around the corner. At the last second, she lifted her head and she knew it was too late to move. She collided into the stranger and fell down, landing in a small puddle with a great "Oof!"
The stranger bent down, offering a hand to the fallen Haruhi and the other reached for his briefcase. Haruhi gladly took it, and the stranger pulled her off from the ground. The man looked down, his eyes wide and full with recognition. Haruhi looked up, no, really looked up because the man had to be at least 6'4. It was dark, and she couldn't really make out his face but she bowed anyway. She apologised for getting his briefcase wet, but he just shook his head. Haruhi thanked the man for helping her up, but he said nothing.
Haruhi side-stepped around him, and continued on her merry way. The man turned, his gaze following her retreating sight. It was Haruhi; he just knew it was her. His eyes wandered after her as she headed into a little all-night café that resided down the footpath. He furrowed his dark eyebrows together, wondering if he should follow her or not.
His brain told him he shouldn't, but his heart and feet told him otherwise. He turned on his heel, and followed Haruhi. He stopped in front of the door and glanced through the front window. Haruhi was sitting in the far back corner, her back towards him and what appeared to be hot chocolate cupped in her hands.
He furrowed his eyebrows once again and walked in, a little bell chiming to let the only waitress know he had arrived. A tall girl arrived, and bowed slightly.
"Welcome. I will take you to your seat." The girl's short red hair swished as she led him to a booth behind Haruhi. He took a seat, setting his briefcase beside him.
She pulled a little notebook and pen from her pocket. "What can I get you, Mister?" She asked with a cheery tone.
"Coffee." he stated quietly, sitting straight so he could look at the back of Haruhi's head. The waitress nodded. "I'll get it now." She came back in a couple minutes with a steaming mug of coffee. She placed it in front of him.
"How much?"
"230 yen, sir." He nodded, and paid the waitress who smiled and bid him good night.
He held the mug, letting the heat warm his cold hands. He took a few sips, his eyes never leaving the back of Haruhi's head. In two years, she had changed a lot. Her hair was longer, and she looked more feminine. He took a few more sips, letting his mind wander.
He remembered the time that Haruhi, the Hosts and himself all went to Kyoya's artificial tropical beach. He remembered that Mitsukini got separated and Haruhi went into full panic mode, trying to find him. He chuckled inwardly, as past memories bubbled in his mind. He also remembered when Haruhi tried sticking up for a few customers at Nekowaza's private beach and mansion and ended up getting pushed from the cliffs into the sea. It was so brave of Tamaki to go after her.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a sharp gasp, and someone, most likely Haruhi, muttering "Mori…?" He looked up and saw Haruhi staring at him, her brown eyes wide. Her face was a mixture of panic, guilt, terror and annoyance. She turned on her heel and ran with her coat and shoulder-bag swishing after her.
Mori dropped his mug, grabbed his case and bolted after the girl. Surprisingly, Haruhi had run pretty far and was round the corner when Mori stumbled out. He had one thing set in his mind - to catch up to Haruhi. With sheer determination, he braced the weather and sprinted after her.
All that was heard was their ragged breathing as Haruhi tried to sprint as fast as her legs could carry her. But Mori was catching up. Why did he have to have such long legs? She cursed under her breath. There was still ten minutes to go but if she ran fast enough, she could possibly slip away from Mori.
Mori took long strides, his over-coat flailing behind him. He was at arm's breadth away and he tried to place his hand on the girl's shoulder, trying to stop her from running away. It must have been a sight to see. A tall man chasing after a woman in the pouring rain.
There was a crossing at the end of the path, and Haruhi sprinted to it. She had just placed a foot on the road when she was pulled back into Mori's arms. A black car sped past, soaking her as it drove through a puddle. She broke free of Mori's grasp, clutching her bag to her chest as she fixated her gaze on a puddle in front of her.
"Haruhi…" His voice trailed off.
She turned around, giving a hard stare in the eyes which made Mori flinched. Her face softened as she whispered, "Why…?" into the cold night air.
Mori knitted his eyebrows together, but she continued. "It could have ended your problems, if I got struck by that car."
Mori was astonished. What was she talking about? Getting struck by the car? Ending her life? Mori shook his head and was too busy lost in his own thoughts, he never saw Haruhi raise her hand or the hard slap that followed after.
His cheek was on fire, and that's what was racing through his mind. He placed a hand on his swollen cheek, and stared down at Haruhi, hurt evident in his eyes. Haruhi still had her hand raised, and her mouth was opening and closing slightly as if she was speaking so quietly that Mori couldn't hear.
"Why…?" Haruhi sniffed, and once again Mori was confused.
"Why did you just sit back and watch those four… idiots do what they did?" Haruhi stated angrily, her voice increasing with every word.
"They controlled me… They monitored everything I did… They told me what I could and couldn't do… They took away my freedom!" Haruhi yelled.
There was a moment of silence between the two and Haruhi's uneven breathing filled the air. The rain had still continued to pour, sliding down Haruhi's face giving the impression that she had been crying.
"And you know what the worst part is?" Haruhi cried, "You, who I highly respected, just sat back and watched it all happen!" Mori avoided her gaze, and Haruhi's uneven breathing filled the space between them.
Mori slung an arm around Haruhi, pulling her close. He didn't care if Haruhi hit him, he just knew that she needed comfort. So that's what he did. He whispered soothing things into her hair as she let it out, pummelling his chest and crying "Baka…" every so often.
They stood like that for moments. Or was it minutes? Both couldn't tell. Haruhi stepped back, looking up at her former sempai with an unreadable expression in her eyes. Mori removed his arm and placed it by his side, looking down into the eyes of the emotionally exhausted female.
"Let me walk you home." It was more a statement than a question but Haruhi nodded numbly, turning on her heel and expecting Mori to follow her. The two walked side by side in silence, none of them saying anything because they were both afraid and hesitant to speak and to break the almost comfortable silence surrounding them.
They arrived at the apartment block, and Haruhi had just begun to walk up the steps leading to the second floor. She stopped in her tracks, and Mori was already beginning to walk back the way the duo came.
"Mori?" Haruhi called after him, causing him to look over his shoulder. "How far is it to your home?"
Mori furrowed his eyebrows before responding, "Around 25 minutes."
Haruhi clutched her bag to her chest, and stared at the step she was standing on. "Well, I don't want you to be getting any more drenched than you already are so… if you want… you could stay the night."
Mori widened his gray eyes in surprise. "Are you sure?" He asked, slowly walking to the bottom of the steps.
Haruhi nodded, and bounded up the steps and once again, expecting Mori to follow after her. And that's what he did.
Afterall, what's the worst that could happen?
A/N: Hello again! What did you think?
I really hope you enjoyed it because I think it will be interesting.
Okay… So that's it basically. Haha.
Goodbye then!
